Why Did CW Fire Hartley Sawyer, a Prominent Character in Grant Gustin’s The Flash? 

Hartley Sawyer, known for his role as Ralph Dibny (Elongated Man) on Grant Gustin’s The Flash, found himself in hot water in 2020. The actor was soon fired from the show after some old tweets resurfaced, causing quite the stir.

To your surprise, these tweets were full of misogynistic, racist, and homophobic remarks. As fans started sifting through old tweets, they found a goldmine of Sawyer’s troubling posts from the past as well.

These tweets didn’t just surprise people—they ignited anger during a big push for social justice. The timing of this controversy couldn’t be worse, as it came during a period of intense focus on systemic racism and discrimination. This was especially notable after the tragic death of George Floyd.

Fans and cast members alike expressed their shock and disappointment. With Sawyer’s fate sealed, the show’s producers made it clear: such behavior is not welcome in the Flash universe—or any universe, for that matter.

Old Tweets Bring Down Hartley Sawyer’s Career Fast

Hartley Sawyer, who joined The Flash in 2017 and became a fan favorite, saw his stardom come crashing down due to his past social media behavior. According to The Hollywood Reporter, it all began when a wave of old tweets resurfaced, igniting outrage across the internet.

One particularly troubling tweet from 2012 had Sawyer joking about being stopped from making “mildly racist tweets” because of Al Sharpton. That alone was enough to get folks riled up.

Another eyebrow-raising tweet from 2014 referenced “a secret b**b viewing at an audition.” As if that wasn’t enough, some of his tweets hinted at assaulting women.

In a world increasingly fed up with such humor, it was clear Sawyer’s jokes missed the mark—by a mile. The CW, along with producers Warner Bros. TV and Berlanti Productions, didn’t take this lightly. They released a statement saying:

We do not tolerate derogatory remarks that target any race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, or sexual orientation. Such remarks are antithetical to our values and polices, which strive and evolve to promote a safe, inclusive and productive environment for our workforce.

Showrunner Eric Wallace also took to Twitter to announce that Hartley Sawyer wouldn’t return for season seven of The Flash. He shared how heartbroken and angry he felt about Sawyer’s old tweets, saying they reflect a bigger problem in our world.

Lead actor Grant Gustin joined in, reposting Wallace’s message and expressing his own shock and sadness when he saw the tweets. He reminded everyone that “words matter,” stressing how serious this issue really is.

Hartley Sawyer’s Apology That Was Never Accepted

In the wake of the backlash, Hartley Sawyer took to Instagram to issue an apology. He admitted that his words were “hurtful and unacceptable.” The 39-year-old expressed regret, saying:

I am ashamed I was capable of these really horrible attempts to get attention at that time. I regret them deeply. This was not acceptable behavior. These were words I threw out at the time with no thought or recognition of the harm my words could do, and now have done today.

It’s nice to see someone taking responsibility, but many were left wondering if the apology was sincere or just damage control. The firing of Sawyer is part of a broader trend in Hollywood, where past actions come back to haunt stars. However, the industry is making it clear that tolerance for offensive behavior is waning.

After the actor’s firing, Ralph Dibny was written out of The Flash in season 7. Season 6 was cut short because of COVID-19, ending at episode 19 instead of 22. At the season’s end, Ralph was trying to help a thief named Sue take down a group called Black Hole. So, instead of recasting him, showrunner Eric Wallace decided to write the character out without killing him off.